Windfarms

Farr Windfarm

A visit to Farr Windfarm took place on 6th May 2006. Twenty-two people participated in the three hour visit, travelling in a mini-bus and a landrover. the trip was guided by site-engineeer Martin Blake. The group were impressed that what had been a large mess had been thoroughly and successfully tided up. Discusssion ranged over such topics as the construction of the access road and lay-bys, volume of traffic, drainage, silt traps, and the effect on wildlife. A very informative and worthwhile visit indeed.

Strathdearn Community Council decided at its meeting on 28 November 2006, attended by 8 Community Councillors and 28 members of the public, to ballot the community to ensure that as accurate a community response as possible on the above development was sent to the planning authorities.

The ballot count took place at a Public Meeting in the Strathdearn Hall on Wednesday 20 December at 7.30 pm. Present were 8 Community Councillors, the Minutes Secretary and 23 members of the public. Rev R F Campbell, the Parish Minister who lives outwith Strathdearn, acted as Returning Officer, assisted by Mr Alistair Cameron, an independent witness.

426 ballot papers had been sent out to those on the Electoral Register.

217 were returned in response to Ballot Paper A (51%).

The first question on Ballot Paper A asked, "Do you object/not object to the building of a Wind Farm at Glenkirk?"

Question 2 on Ballot Paper A invited respondents to outline the main reason for their answer to Question 1 on Ballot Paper A, to help the Community Council more accurately reflect the community's views.

At the close of the ballot result, Strathdearn Community Council unanimously resolved (on the motion of Mr Hart, seconded by Mr Bonniface) to send a letter to both the Scottish Executive and Highland Council stating that:

Strathdearn Community Council now wishes to formally object to the development of a Wind Farm at Glenkirk for the following reasons contained in the ballot responses:

If, despite these strong objections, the Scottish Executive is minded to approve this development, Strathdearn Community Council wishes to continue to object to the use of the Balvraid Road as an access route to the Wind Farm as a condition of planning as stated in our letter to you dated 19 January 2006.

As you know, more detailed plans for the road access to the Glenkirk Wind Farm site have still to be prepared and will be the subject of a separate planning application to Highland Council. Nonetheless, given that the access route (via Balvraid Road) was by far the greatest concern recorded in our two previous responses to Planning, the Community Council resolved to ask Question 3 on Ballot Paper B, "In the event of the Glenkirk Wind Farm going ahead, do you think that Route 4 (the access route leaving the A9 at the existing turn-off to Invereen Farm which splits into two on the other side of the river) is the best route to the Wind Farm?

218 electors replied to this question.

The Community Council has objected to the Dunmaglass windfarm on the grounds that the development would pose an economic threat to jobs and tourism; have a wider impact on protected species; and a detrimental impact on wild land.

The proposed Tom nan Clach windfarm would adjoin Glenkirk, and if approved, would add another 50 turbines to the 34 at Glenkirk.
The view of the meeting was that there was concern that the Tom nan Clach windfarm may use the same access and grid connection as glenkirk, resulting in a second lot of construction traffic for a further period and more disruption.

Scottish Renwables

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